*Holy See (Vatican City), Government
Names:conventional long form:The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)conventional short form:Holy See (Vatican City)local long form:Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)local short form:Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)Digraph:VTType:monarchical-sacerdotal stateCapital:Vatican CityIndependence:11 February 1929 (from Italy)Constitution:Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)Legal system:NANational holiday:Installation Day of the Pope, 22 October (1978) (John Paul II)note:Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978Political parties and leaders:noneOther political or pressure groups:none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)Suffrage:limited to cardinals less than 80 years oldElections:Pope:last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the currentpope); results - Karol WOJTYLA was elected for life by the College ofCardinalsExecutive branch:popeLegislative branch:unicameral Pontifical CommissionJudicial branch:none; normally handled by ItalyLeaders:Chief of State:Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October 1978)Head of Government:Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since NA)Member of:CSCE, IAEA, ICFTU, IMF (observer), INTELSAT, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS(observer), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Agostino CACCIAVILLANchancery:3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone:(202) 333-7121
*Holy See (Vatican City), Government
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Raymond L. FLYNNembassy:Villino Pacelli, Via Aurelia 294, 00165 Romemailing address:PSC 59, APO AE 09624telephone:[396] 46741FAX:[396] 638-0159Flag:two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys ofSaint Peter and the papal tiara centered in the white band
*Holy See (Vatican City), Economy
Overview:This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by contributions(known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholics throughout the world, the saleof postage stamps and tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, andthe sale of publications. The incomes and living standards of lay workersare comparable to, or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who workin the city of Rome.Budget:revenues $86 million; expenditures $178 million, including capitalexpenditures of $NA (1993 est.)Electricity:5,000 kW standby capacity (1992); power supplied by ItalyIndustries: printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms;worldwide banking and financial activitiesCurrency:1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimiExchange rates:Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1,482.5 (January 1993), 1,232.4 (1992),1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988); note - theVatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freelyFiscal year:calendar year
*Holy See (Vatican City), Communications
Railroads:850 m, 750 mm gauge (links with Italian network near the Rome station ofSaint Peter's)Highways:none; all city streetsTelecommunications:broadcast stations - 3 AM, 4 FM, no TV; 2,000-line automatic telephoneexchange; no communications satellite systems
*Holy See (Vatican City), Defense Forces
Note:defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted atentrances to the Vatican City
*Honduras, Geography
Location:Central America, between Guatemala and NicaraguaMap references:Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of theWorldArea:total area:112,090 km2land area:111,890 km2comparative area:slightly larger than TennesseeLand boundaries:total 1,520 km, Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua 922 kmCoastline:820 kmMaritime claims:contiguous zone:24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:land boundary dispute with El Salvador mostly resolved by 11 September 1992International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision; ICJ referred the maritimeboundary in the Golfo de Fonseca to an earlier agreement in this century andadvised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras andNicaragua likely would be requiredClimate:subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountainsTerrain:mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plainsNatural resources:timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fishLand use:arable land:14%permanent crops:2%meadows and pastures:30%forest and woodland:34%other:20%Irrigated land:900 km2 (1989 est.)Environment:subject to frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; damaging hurricanesand floods along Caribbean coast; deforestation; soil erosion
*Honduras, People
Population:5,170,108 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:2.8% (1993 est.)Birth rate:35.82 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:6.44 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:-1.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:47.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:67.17 yearsmale:64.82 yearsfemale: 69.62 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:4.87 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Honduran(s)adjective:HonduranEthnic divisions:mestizo (mixed Indian and European) 90%, Indian 7%, black 2%, white 1%Religions:Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant minorityLanguages:Spanish, Indian dialectsLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1990)total population:73%male:76%female:71%Labor force:1.3 millionby occupation:agriculture 62%, services 20%, manufacturing 9%, construction 3%, other 6%(1985)
*Honduras, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Hondurasconventional short form:Honduraslocal long form:Republica de Honduraslocal short form:HondurasDigraph:HOType:republicCapital:TegucigalpaAdministrative divisions:18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Atlantida,Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan,Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque,Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, YoroIndependence:15 September 1821 (from Spain)Constitution:11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982Legal system:rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some influence of English common law;accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservationsNational holiday:Independence Day, 15 September (1821)Political parties and leaders:Liberal Party (PLH), Carlos Roberto REINA, presidential candidate, RafaelPINEDA Ponce, president; National Party (PN) has two factions: MovimientoNacional de Reivindication Callejista (Monarca), Rafael Leonardo CALLEJAS,and Oswaldista, Oswaldo RAMOS SOTO, presidential candidate; NationalInnovation and Unity Party (PINU), German LEITZELAR, president; ChristianDemocratic Party (PDCH), Efrain DIAZ Arrivillaga, presidentOther political or pressure groups:National Association of Honduran Campesinos (ANACH); Honduran Council ofPrivate Enterprise (COHEP); Confederation of Honduran Workers (CTH);National Union of Campesinos (UNC); General Workers Confederation (CGT);United Federation of Honduran Workers (FUTH); Committee for the Defense ofHuman Rights in Honduras (CODEH); Coordinating Committee of PopularOrganizations (CCOP)Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsoryElections:President:last held on 26 November 1989 (next to be held November 1993); results -Rafael Leonardo CALLEJAS (PNH) 51%, Carlos FLORES Facusse (PLH) 43.3%, other5.7%National Congress:last held on 26 November 1989 (next to be held November 1993); results - PNH51%, PLH 43%, PDCH 1.9%, PINU-SD 1.5%, other 2.6%; seats - (128 total) PNH71, PLH 55, PINU-SD 2Executive branch:president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)Legislative branch:unicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
*Honduras, Government
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justica)Leaders:Chief of State and Head of Government:President Rafael Leonardo CALLEJAS Romero (since 26 January 1990)Member of:BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS,OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Rene Arturo BENDANA-VALENZUELAchancery:3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone:(202) 966-7702consulates general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Franciscoconsulates:Baton Rouge, Boston, Detroit, Houston, and JacksonvilleUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador William Bryce (since 28 May 1993)embassy:Avenida La Paz, Tegucigalpamailing address:APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpatelephone:[504] 32-3120FAX:[504] 32-0027Flag:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with five bluefive-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band; thestars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of CentralAmerica - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua;similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircledby the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in thewhite band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangleencircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL onthe bottom, centered in the white band
*Honduras, Economy
Overview:Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.Agriculture, the most important sector of the economy, accounts for morethan 25% of GDP, employs 62% of the labor force, and produces two-thirds ofexports. Productivity remains low. Industry, still in its early stages,employs nearly 9% of the labor force, accounts for 15% of GDP, and generates20% of exports. The service sectors, including public administration,account for 50% of GDP and employ nearly 20% of the labor force. Basicproblems facing the economy include rapid population growth, highunemployment, a lack of basic services, a large and inefficient publicsector, and the dependence of the export sector mostly on coffee andbananas, which are subject to sharp price fluctuations. A far-reachingreform program initiated by President CALLEJAS in 1990 is beginning to takehold.National product:GDP - exchange rate conversion - $5.5 billion (1992 est.)National product real growth rate:3.6% (1992 est.)National product per capita:$1,090 (1992 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):8% (1992 est.)Unemployment rate:15% (30-40% underemployed) (1989)Budget:revenues $1.4 billion; expenditures $1.9 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $511 million (1990 est.)Exports:$1.0 billion (f.o.b., 1991)commodities:bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, minerals, meat, lumberpartners:US 65%, Germany 9%, Japan 8%, Belgium 7%Imports:$1.3 billion (c.i.f. 1991)commodities:machinery and transport equipment, chemical products, manufactured goods,fuel and oil, foodstuffspartners:US 45%, Japan 9%, Netherlands 7%, Mexico 7%, Venezuela 6%External debt:$2.8 billion (1990)Industrial production:growth rate 0.8% (1990 est.); accounts for 15% of GDPElectricity:575,000 kW capacity; 2,000 million kWh produced, 390 kWh per capita (1992)Industries:agricultural processing (sugar and coffee), textiles, clothing, woodproductsAgriculture:most important sector, accounting for more than 25% of GDP, more than 60% ofthe labor force, and two-thirds of exports; principal products includebananas, coffee, timber, beef, citrus fruit, shrimp; importer of wheatIllicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principallyfor local consumption; transshipment point for cocaineEconomic aid:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.4 billion; Western (non-US)countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.1 billion
*Honduras, Economy
Currency:1 lempira (L) = 100 centavosExchange rates:lempiras (L) per US$1 - 5.4 (fixed rate); 5.70 parallel black-market rate(November 1990); the lempira was allowed to float in 1992; current rateabout US$1 - 5.65Fiscal year:calendar year
*Honduras, Communications
Railroads:785 km total; 508 km 1.067-meter gauge, 277 km 0.914-meter gaugeHighways:8,950 km total; 1,700 km paved, 5,000 km otherwise improved, 2,250 kmunimproved earthInland waterways: 465 km navigable by small craftPorts:Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San LorenzoMerchant marine:252 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 819,100 GRT/1,195,276 DWT; includes 2passenger-cargo, 162 cargo, 20 refrigerated cargo, 10 container, 6roll-on/roll-off cargo, 22 oil tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 2 specializedtanker, 22 bulk, 3 passenger, 2 short-sea passenger; note - a flag ofconvenience registry; Russia owns 10 ships under the Honduran flagAirports:total:165usable:137with permanent-surface runways:11with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:4with runways 1,220-2,439 m:14Telecommunications:inadequate system with only 7 telephones per 1,000 persons; internationalservices provided by 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earch stations and theCentral American microwave radio relay system; broadcast stations - 176 AM,no FM, 7 SW, 28 TV
*Honduras, Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, Public Security Forces (FUSEP)Manpower availability:males age 15-49 1,185,072; fit for military service 706,291; reach militaryage (18) annually 58,583 (1993 est.)Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $45 million, about 1% of GDP (1993 est.)
*Hong Kong, Header
Affiliation: (dependent territory of the UK)
*Hong Kong, Geography
Location:East Asia, on the southeast coast of China bordering the South China SeaMap references:Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea: total area:1,040 km2land area:990 km2comparative area:slightly less than six times the size of Washington, DCLand boundaries:total 30 km, China 30 kmCoastline:733 kmMaritime claims:exclusive fishing zone:3 nmterritorial sea:3 nmInternational disputes:noneClimate:tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from springthrough summer, warm and sunny in fallTerrain:hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in northNatural resources:outstanding deepwater harbor, feldsparLand use:arable land:7%permanent crops:1%meadows and pastures:1%forest and woodland:12%other:79%Irrigated land:20 km2 (1989)Environment:more than 200 islands; occasional typhoons
*Hong Kong, People
Population:5,552,965 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:-0.06% (1993 est.)Birth rate:12.27 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:5.68 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:-7.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:5.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:79.99 yearsmale:76.55 yearsfemale:83.64 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:1.34 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Chineseadjective:ChineseEthnic divisions:Chinese 98%, other 2%Religions:eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%Languages:Chinese (Cantonese), EnglishLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1971)total population:77%male:90%female:64%Labor force:2.8 million (1990)by occupation:manufacturing 28.5%, wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels27.9%, services 17.7%, financing, insurance, and real estate 9.2%, transportand communications 4.5%, construction 2.5%, other 9.7% (1989)
*Hong Kong, Government
Names:conventional long form:noneconventional short form:Hong KongAbbreviation:HKDigraph:HKType:dependent territory of the UK scheduled to revert to China in 1997Capital:VictoriaAdministrative divisions:none (dependent territory of the UK)Independence:none (dependent territory of the UK; the UK signed an agreement with Chinaon 19 December 1984 to return Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997; in thejoint declaration, China promises to respect Hong Kong's existing social andeconomic systems and lifestyle)Constitution:unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice; new Basic Lawapproved in March 1990 in preparation for 1997Legal system:based on English common lawNational holiday:Liberation Day, 29 August (1945)Political parties and leaders:United Democrats of Hong Kong, Martin LEE, chairman; Democratic Alliance forthe Betterment of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Democratic FoundationOther political or pressure groups:Cooperative Resources Center, Allen LEE, chairman; Meeting Point, AnthonyCHEUNG, chairman; Association of Democracy and People's Livelihood,Frederick FUNG Kin Kee, chairman; Liberal Democratic Federation, HEUNG YeeKuk; Federation of Trade Unions (pro-China); Hong Kong and Kowloon TradeUnion Council (pro-Taiwan); Confederation of Trade Unions (prodemocracy);Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Chinese General Chamber of Commerce(pro-China); Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Chinese Manufacturers'Association of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union; Hong KongAlliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in ChinaSuffrage:direct election 21 years of age; universal as a permanent resident living inthe territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years indirect electionlimited to about 100,000 professionals of electoral college and functionalconstituenciesElections:Legislative Council:indirect elections last held 12 September 1991 and direct elections wereheld for the first time 15 September 1991 (next to be held in September 1995when the number of directly-elected seats increases to 20); results -percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total; 21 indirectly elected byfunctional constituencies, 18 directly elected, 18 appointed by governor, 3ex officio members); indirect elections - number of seats by functionalconstituency NA; direct elections - UDHK 12, Meeting Point 3, ADPL 1, other2Executive branch:British monarch, governor, chief secretary of the Executive CouncilLegislative branch:unicameral Legislative Council
*Hong Kong, Government
Judicial branch:Supreme CourtLeaders:Chief of State:Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)Head of Government:Governor Chris PATTEN (since NA July 1992); Chief Secretary Sir David RobertFORD (since NA February 1987)Member of: APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP (associate), GATT, ICFTU, IMO (associate), INTERPOL(subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMODiplomatic representation in US:as a dependent territory of the UK, the interests of Hong Kong in the US arerepresented by the UKUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Consul General Richard L. WILLIAMSembassy:Consulate General at 26 Garden Road, Hong Kongmailing address:Box 30, Hong Kong, or FPO AP 96522-0002telephone:[852] 239-011Flag:blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with the HongKong coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag;the coat of arms contains a shield (bearing two junks below a crown) held bya lion (representing the UK) and a dragon (representing China) with anotherlion above the shield and a banner bearing the words HONG KONG below theshield
*Hong Kong, Economy
Overview:Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy with few tariffs or nontariffbarriers. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must beimported. Manufacturing accounts for about 18% of GDP, employs 28% of thelabor force, and exports about 90% of its output. Real GDP growth averaged aremarkable 8% in 1987-88, slowed to 3.0% in 1989-90, and picked up to 4.2%in 1991 and 5.9% in 1992. Unemployment, which has been declining since themid-1980s, is now about 2%. A shortage of labor continues to put upwardpressure on prices and the cost of living. Short-term prospects remainbright so long as major trading partners continue to be reasonablyprosperous.National product:GDP - exchange rate conversion - $86 billion (1992 est.)National product real growth rate:5.9% (1992)National product per capita:$14,600 (1992 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):9.4% (1992)Unemployment rate:2% (1992 est.)Budget:revenues $17.4 billion; expenditures $14.7 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $NA (FY92)Exports:$118 billion, including reexports of $85.1 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)commodities:clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric, footwear, electrical appliances,watches and clocks, toyspartners: US 29%, China 21%, Germany 8%, UK 6%, Japan 5% (1990)Imports:$120 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)commodities:foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials, semimanufactures, petroleumpartners:China 37%, Japan 16%, Taiwan 9%, US 8% (1990)External debt:$9.5 billion (December 1990 est.)Industrial production:growth rate NA%Electricity:9,566,000 kW capacity; 29,400 million kWh produced, 4,980 kWh per capita(1992)Industries:textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocksAgriculture:minor role in the economy; rice, vegetables, dairy products; less than 20%self-sufficient; shortages of rice, wheat, waterIllicit drugs:a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade; transshipment and major financialand money-laundering centerEconomic aid:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $152 million; Western (non-US)countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $923 millionCurrency:1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents
*Hong Kong, Economy
Exchange rates:Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$ - 7.800 (1992), 7.771 (1991), 7.790 (1990),7.800 (1989), 7.810 (1988), 7.760 (1987); note - linked to the US dollar atthe rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$ since 1985Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
*Hong Kong, Communications
Railroads:35 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, government ownedHighways:1,100 km total; 794 km paved, 306 km gravel, crushed stone, or earthPorts:Hong KongMerchant marine:176 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 5,870,007 GRT/10,006,390 DWT;includes 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger, 20 cargo, 6 refrigerated cargo,29 container, 15 oil tanker, 3 chemical tanker, 6 combination ore/oil, 5liquefied gas, 88 bulk, 2 combination bulk; note - a flag of convenienceregistry; ships registered in Hong Kong fly the UK flag, and an estimated500 Hong Kong-owned ships are registered elsewhereAirports:total:2useable:2with permanent-surface runways:2with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:1with runways 1,220-2,439 m:0Telecommunications:modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services;3,000,000 telephones; microwave transmission links and extensive opticalfiber transmission network; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 6 FM, 4 TV; 1 BritishBroadcasting Corporation (BBC) repeater station and 1 British ForcesBroadcasting Service repeater station; 2,500,000 radio receivers; 1,312,000TV sets (1,224,000 color TV sets); satellite earth stations - 1 PacificOcean INTELSAT and 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT; coaxial cable to Guangzhou,China; links to 5 international submarine cables providing access to ASEANmember nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe
*Hong Kong, Defense Forces
Branches:Headquarters of British Forces, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Hong KongAuxiliary Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Police ForceManpower availability:males age 15-49 1,635,516; fit for military service 1,256,057; reachmilitary age (18) annually 43,128 (1993 est.)Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $300 million, 0.5% of GDP (1989 est.); thisrepresents one-fourth of the total cost of defending itself, the remainderbeing paid by the UKNote:defense is the responsibility of the UK
*Howland Island, Header
Affiliation: (territory of the US)
*Howland Island, Geography
Location:in the North Pacific Ocean, 2,575 km southwest of Honolulu, just north ofthe Equator, about halfway between Hawaii and AustraliaMap references: OceaniaArea:total area:1.6 km2land area:1.6 km2comparative area:about 2.7 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DCLand boundaries:0 kmCoastline:6.4 kmMaritime claims:contiguous zone:24 nmcontinental shelf:200 m or the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:noneClimate:equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sunTerrain:low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringingreef; depressed central areaNatural resources:guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)Land use:arable land:0%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:0%forest and woodland:5%other:95%Irrigated land:0 km2Environment:almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growingshrubs; small area of trees in the center; lacks fresh water; primarily anesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marinewildlife; feral cats
*Howland Island, People
Population:uninhabited; note - American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese airand naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during WorldWar II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permitonly and generally restricted to scientists and educators
*Howland Island, Government
Names:conventional long form:noneconventional short form:Howland IslandDigraph:HQType:unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and WildlifeService of the US Department of the Interior as part of the NationalWildlife Refuge SystemCapital:none; administered from Washington, DC
*Howland Island, Economy
Overview: no economic activity
*Howland Island, Communications
Ports:none; offshore anchorage only, one boat landing area along the middle of thewest coastAirports:airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on theround-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan - they left Lae,New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; the airstrip isno longer serviceableNote:Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that waspartially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt inmemory of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart
*Howland Island, Defense Forces
defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard
*Hungary, Geography
Location:Eastern Europe, between Slovakia and RomaniaMap references:Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, EuropeArea:total area:93,030 km2land area:92,340 km2comparative area:slightly smaller than IndianaLand boundaries:total 1,952 km, Austria 366 km, Croatia 292 km, Romania 443 km, Serbia andMontenegro 151 km (all with Serbia), Slovakia 515 km, Slovenia 82 km,Ukraine 103 kmCoastline:0 km (landlocked)Maritime claims:none; landlockedInternational disputes:Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Slovakia; Vojvodina taken from Hungary andawarded to the former Yugoslavia by treaty of Trianon in 1920Climate:temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summersTerrain:mostly flat to rolling plainsNatural resources:bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soilsLand use:arable land:50.7%permanent crops:6.1%meadows and pastures:12.6%forest and woodland:18.3%other:12.3%Irrigated land:1,750 km2 (1989)Environment:levees are common along many streams, but flooding occurs almost every yearNote:landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between WesternEurope and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterraneanbasin
*Hungary, People
Population:10,324,018 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:-0.07% (1993 est.)Birth rate:12.33 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:13.02 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:13.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:70.86 yearsmale:66.81 yearsfemale:75.12 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:1.83 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Hungarian(s)adjective:HungarianEthnic divisions:Hungarian 89.9%, Gypsy 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%, Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7%Religions:Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%, atheist and other 7.5%Languages:Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%Literacy:age 15 and over can read and write (1980)total population:99%male:99%female:98%Labor force:5.4 millionby occupation:services, trade, government, and other 44.8%, industry 29.7%, agriculture16.1%, construction 7.0% (1991)
*Hungary, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Hungaryconventional short form:Hungarylocal long form:Magyar Koztarsasaglocal short form:MagyarorszagDigraph: HUType:republicCapital:BudapestAdministrative divisions:38 counties (megyek, singular - megye) and 1 capital city* (fovaros);, Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya,Bekes, Bekescsaba, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest*,, Csongrad, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Fejer,Gyor, Gyor-Moson-Sopron,Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Hodmezovasarhely, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar,Kecskemet, Komarom-Esztergom, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza,Pecs, Pest, Somogy, Sopron, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szeged, Szekesfehervar,Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala, ZalaegerszegIndependence:1001 (unification by King Stephen I)Constitution:18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19 April 1972; 18 October1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals and constitutional checkson the authority of the prime minister and also established the principle ofparliamentary oversightLegal system:in process of revision, moving toward rule of law based on Western modelNational holiday:October 23 (1956) (commemorates the Hungarian uprising)Political parties and leaders:Democratic Forum, Jozsef ANTALL, chairman, Dr. Lajos FUR, executivechairman; Independent Smallholders (FKGP), Jozsef TORGYAN, president;Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP), Gyula HORN, chairman; Christian DemocraticPeople's Party (KDNP), Dr. Lazlo SURJAN, president; Federation of YoungDemocrats (FIDESZ), Viktor ORBAN, chairman; Alliance of Free Democrats(SZDSZ), Ivan PETO, chairmannote:the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party (MSZMP) renouncedCommunism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSP) in October 1989;there is still a small (fringe) MSZMPSuffrage:18 years of age; universalElections:President:last held 3 August 1990 (next to be held NA 1995); results - President GONCZelected by parliamentary vote; note - President GONCZ was elected by theNational Assembly with a total of 295 votes out of 304 as interim Presidentfrom 2 May 1990 until elected PresidentNational Assembly:last held on 25 March 1990 (first round, with the second round held 8 April1990); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (386 total) DemocraticForum 162, Free Democrats 90, Independent Smallholders 45, HungarianSocialist Party (MSP) 33, Young Democrats 22, Christian Democrats 21,independents or jointly sponsored candidates 13
*Hungary, Government
Executive branch:president, prime ministerLegislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (Orszaggyules)Judicial branch:Constitutional CourtLeaders:Chief of State:President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990; previously interim presidentfrom 2 May 1990)Head of Government:Prime Minister Jozsef ANTALL (since 21 May 1990)Member of:Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-9, GATT,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZCDiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Pal TARchancery:3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington DC 20008telephone:(202) 362-6730FAX:(202) 966-8135consulate general:New YorkUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Charles H. THOMASembassy:V. Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapestmailing address:Am Embassy, Unit 25402, APO AE 09213-5270telephone:[36] (1) 112-6450FAX:[36] (1) 132-8934Flag:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green
*Hungary, Economy
Overview:Hungary is in the midst of a difficult transition from a command to a marketeconomy. Agriculture is an important sector, providing sizable exportearnings and meeting domestic food needs. Industry accounts for about 40% ofGDP and 30% of employment. Hungary claims that less than 25% of foreigntrade is now with former CEMA countries, while about 70% is with OECDmembers. Hungary's economic reform programs during the Communist era gave ita head start in creating a market economy and attracting foreign investment.In 1991, Hungary received 60% of all foreign investment in Eastern Europe,and in 1992 received the largest single share. The growing private sectoraccounts for about one-third of national output according to unofficialestimates. Privatization of state enterprises is progressing, althoughexcessive red tape, bureaucratic oversight, and uncertainties about pricinghave slowed the process. Escalating unemployment and high rates of inflationmay impede efforts to speed up privatization and budget reform, whileHungary's heavy foreign debt will make the government reluctant to introducefull convertibility of the forint before 1994 and to rein in inflation. Thegovernment is projecting an end to the 5-year recession in 1993, and GDP isforecast to grow 0%-3%.National product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $55.4 billion (1992 est.)National product real growth rate:-5% (1992 est.)National product per capita:$5,380 (1992 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):23% (1992 est.)Unemployment rate:12.3% (1992)Budget:revenues $13.2 billion; expenditures $15.4 billion, including capitalexpenditures $NA (1993 est.)Exports:$10.9 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)commodities:raw materials, semi-finished goods, chemicals 35.5%, machinery 13.5%, lightindustry 23.3%, food and agricultural 24.8%, fuels and energy 2.8%partners:OECD 70.7%, (EC 50.1%, EFTA 15.0%), LDCs 5.1%, former CEMA members 23.2%,others 1.0% (1991)Imports:$11.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)commodities:fuels and energy 14.9%, raw materials, semi-finished goods, chemicals 37.6%,machinery 19.7%, light industry 21.5%, food and agricultural 6.3%partners:OECD 71.0%, (EC 45.4%, EFTA 20.0%), LDCs 3.9%, former CEMA members 23.9%,others 1.2% (1991)External debt:$23.5 billion (September 1992)Industrial production:growth rate -10% (1992)Electricity:7,200,000 kW capacity; 30,000 million kWh produced, 3,000 kWh per capita(1992)Industries:mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles,chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), buses, automobiles
*Hungary, Economy
Agriculture:including forestry, accounts for 15% of GDP and 16% of employment; highlydiversified crop and livestock farming; principal crops - wheat, corn,sunflowers, potatoes, sugar beets; livestock - hogs, cattle, poultry, dairyproducts; self-sufficient in food outputIllicit drugs:transshipment point for Southeast Asia heroin transiting the Balkan routeEconomic aid:recipient - $9.1 billion in assistance from OECD countries (from 1st quarter1990 to end of 2nd quarter 1991)Currency:1 forint (Ft) = 100 fillerExchange rates:forints per US$1 - 83.97 (December 1992), 78.99 (1992), 74.74 (1991), 63.21(1990), 59.07 (1989), 50.41 (1988)Fiscal year:calendar year
*Hungary, Communications
Railroads:7,765 km total; 7,508 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 222 km narrow gauge(mostly 0.760-meter), 35 km 1.520-meter broad gauge; 1,236 km double track,2,249 km electrified; all government owned (1990)Highways:130,218 km total; 29,919 km national highway system (27,212 km asphalt, 126km concrete, 50 km stone and road brick, 2,131 km macadam, 400 km unpaved);58,495 km country roads (66% unpaved), and 41,804 km other roads (70%unpaved) (1988)Inland waterways:1,622 km (1988)Pipelines:crude oil 1,204 km; natural gas 4,387 km (1991)Ports:Budapest and Dunaujvaros are river ports on the Danube; coastal outlets areRostock (Germany), Gdansk (Poland), Gdynia (Poland), Szczecin (Poland),Galati (Romania), and Braila (Romania)Merchant marine:12 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) and 1 bulk totaling 83,091 GRT/115,950DWTAirports:total:92usable:92with permanent-surface runways:25with runways over 3,659 m:1with runways 2,440-3,659 m:20with runways 1,220-2,439 m:28Telecommunications:automatic telephone network based on microwave radio relay system; 1,128,800phones (1991); telephone density is at 19.4 per 100 inhabitants; 49% of allphones are in Budapest; 608,000 telephones on order (1991); 12-15 year waitfor a phone; 14,213 telex lines (1991); broadcast stations - 32 AM, 15 FM,41 TV (8 Soviet TV repeaters); 4.2 million TVs (1990); 1 satellite groundstation using INTELSAT and Intersputnik
*Hungary, Defense Forces
Branches:Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard, Territorial DefenseManpower availability:males age 15-49 2,630,552; fit for military service 2,101,637; reachmilitary age (18) annually 91,979 (1993 est.)Defense expenditures:66.5 billion forints, NA% of GNP (1993 est.); note - conversion of defenseexpenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could producemisleading results
*Iceland, Geography
Location:in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Greenland and NorwayMap references:Arctic Region, Europe, North America, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:103,000 km2land area:100,250 km2comparative area:slightly smaller than KentuckyLand boundaries:0 kmCoastline:4,988 kmMaritime claims:continental shelf:200 nm or the edge of continental marginexclusive economic zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK(Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)Climate:temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp,cool summersTerrain:mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeplyindented by bays and fiordsNatural resources:fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomiteLand use:arable land:1% permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:20%forest and woodland:1%other:78%Irrigated land:NA km2Environment:subject to earthquakes and volcanic activityNote:strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost Europeancountry; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe
*Iceland, People
Population:261,270 (July 1993 est.)note:population data estimates based on average growth rate may differ slightlyfrom official population data because of volatile migration ratesPopulation growth rate:0.88% (1993 est.)Birth rate:16.99 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:6.74 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:-1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:78.69 yearsmale:76.45 yearsfemale:81.04 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:2.16 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Icelander(s)adjective:IcelandicEthnic divisions:homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and CeltsReligions:Evangelical Lutheran 96%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, none 1%(1988)Languages:IcelandicLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1976)total population:100%male:NA%female:NA%Labor force:127,900by occupation:commerce, transportation, and services 60.0%, manufacturing 12.5%, fishingand fish processing 11.8%, construction 10.8%, agriculture 4.0% (1990)
*Iceland, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Icelandconventional short form:Icelandlocal long form:Lyoveldio Islandlocal short form:IslandDigraph:ICType:republicCapital:ReykjavikAdministrative divisions:23 counties (syslar, singular - sysla) and 14 independent towns*, (kaupstadhir, singular -kaupstadhur); Akranes*, Akureyri*, Arnessysla,, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Austur-Hunavatnssysla,Austur-Skaftafellssysla,Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla,Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*,, Myrasysla,Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasys-la,, Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla,Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*,, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*,,Skagafjardharsysla,Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla,Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vesttmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla,, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla,Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-SkaftafellssyslaIndependence:17 June 1944 (from Denmark)Constitution:16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944Legal system:civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJjurisdictionNational holiday:Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17 June (1944)Political parties and leaders:Independence Party (conservative), David ODDSSON; Progressive Party,Steingrimur HERMANNSSON; Social Democratic Party, Jon Baldvin HANNIBALSSON;People's Alliance (left socialist), Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON; Women's ListSuffrage:18 years of age; universalElections:President:last held on 29 June 1988 (next scheduled for June 1996); results - therewas no election in 1992 as President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR was unopposedAlthing:last held on 20 April 1991 (next to be held by April 1995); results -Independence Party 38.6%, Progressive Party 18.9%, Social Democratic Party15.5%, People's Alliance 14.4%, Womens List 8.3%, Liberals 1.2%, other 3.1%;seats - (63 total) Independence 26, Progressive 13, Social Democratic 10,People's Alliance 9, Womens List 5Executive branch:president, prime minister, CabinetLegislative branch:unicameral Parliament (Althing)Judicial branch:Supreme Court (Haestirettur)
*Iceland, Government
Leaders:Chief of State:President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980)Head of Government:Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)Member of:Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, GATT, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA,NIB, OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:(vacant)chancery:2022 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008telephone:(202) 265-6653 through 6655FAX:(202) 265-6656consulate general:New YorkUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:(vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jon GUNDERSENembassy:Laufasvegur 21, Box 40, Reykjavikmailing address:USEMB, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340telephone:[354] (1) 29100FAX: [354] (1) 29139Flag:blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of theflag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in thestyle of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
*Iceland, Economy
Overview:Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, but with anextensive welfare system, relatively low unemployment, and comparativelyeven distribution of income. The economy is heavily dependent on the fishingindustry, which provides nearly 75% of export earnings and employs 12% ofthe workforce. In the absence of other natural resources - except energy -Iceland's economy is vulnerable to changing world fish prices. Iceland'seconomy has been in recession since 1988. The recession deepened in 1992 dueto severe cutbacks in fishing quotas and falling world prices for thecountry's main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon.Real GDP declined 3.3% in 1992 and is forecast to contract another 1.5% in1993. The center-right government's economic goals include reducing thebudget and current account deficits, limiting foreign borrowing, containinginflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies, diversifying theeconomy, and privatizing state-owned industries. The recession has led to awave of bankruptcies and mergers throughout the economy, as well as thehighest unemployment of the post-World War II period. The nationalunemployment rate reached 5% in early 1993, with some parts of the countryexperiencing unemployment in the 9-10% range. Inflation, previously aserious problem, declined from double digit rates in the 1980s to only 3.7%in 1992.National product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $4.5 billion (1992)National product real growth rate:-3.3% (1992)National product per capita:$17,400 (1992)Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.7% (1992 est.)Unemployment rate:5% (first quarter 1993)Budget:revenues $1.8 billion; expenditures $1.9 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $191 million (1992)Exports:$1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992)commodities:fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum, ferrosilicon, diatomitepartners:EC 68% (UK 25%, Germany 12%), US 11%, Japan 8% (1992)Imports:$1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1992)commodities:machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs,textilespartners: EC 53% (Germany 14%, Denmark 10%, UK 9%), Norway 14%, US 9% (1992)External debt:$3.9 billion (1992 est.)Industrial production:growth rate 1.75% (1991 est.)Electricity:1,063,000 kW capacity; 5,165 million kWh produced, 19,940 kWh per capita(1992)Industries:fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferro-silicon production, geothermalpower
*Iceland, Economy
Agriculture:accounts for about 25% of GDP; fishing is most important economic activity,contributing nearly 75% to export earnings; principal crops - potatoes,turnips; livestock - cattle, sheep; self-sufficient in crops; fish catch ofabout 1.4 million metric tons in 1989Economic aid:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $19.1 millionCurrency:1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurarExchange rates:Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 63.789 (January 1993), 57.546 (1992),58.996 (1991), 58.284 (1990), 57.042 (1989), 43.014 (1988)Fiscal year:calendar year
*Iceland, Communications
Highways:11,543 km total; 2,690 km hard surfaced, 8,853 km gravel and earthPorts:Reykjavik, Akureyri, Hafnarfjordhur, Keflavik, Seydhisfjordhur,Siglufjordhur, VestmannaeyjarMerchant marine:10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,832 GRT/53,037 DWT; includes 3cargo, 3 refrigerated cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 oil tanker, 1chemical tankerAirports:total:90usable:84with permanent-surface runways:8with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:1with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 12Telecommunications:adequate domestic service; coaxial and fiber-optical cables and microwaveradio relay for trunk network; 140,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 5AM, 147 (transmitters and repeaters) FM, 202 (transmitters and repeaters)TV; 2 submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station carries allinternational traffic; a second INTELSAT earth station is scheduled to beoperational in 1993
*Iceland, Defense Forces
Branches:Police, Coast Guardnote:no armed forces, Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned IcelandicDefense Force (IDF) headquartered at KeflavikManpower availability:males age 15-49 69,499; fit for military service 61,798 (1993 est.); noconscription or compulsory military serviceDefense expenditures:none
*India, Geography
Location:South Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, betweenBangladesh and PakistanMap references:Asia, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:3,287,590 km2land area:2,973,190 km2comparative area:slightly more than one-third the size of the USLand boundaries:total 14,103 km, Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463 km, China3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 kmCoastline:7,000 kmMaritime claims:contiguous zone:24 nmcontinental shelf:200 nm or the edge of continental marginexclusive economic zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:boundaries with Bangladesh and China; status of Kashmir with Pakistan;water-sharing problems with downstream riparians, Bangladesh over the Gangesand Pakistan over the IndusClimate:varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in northTerrain:upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along theGanges, deserts in west, Himalayas in northNatural resources:coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica,bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestoneLand use:arable land:55%permanent crops:1%meadows and pastures:4%forest and woodland:23%other:17%Irrigated land:430,390 km2 (1989)Environment:droughts, flash floods, severe thunderstorms common; deforestation; soilerosion; overgrazing; air and water pollution; desertificationNote:dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes
*India, People
Population:903,158,968 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:1.86% (1993 est.)Birth rate:29.11 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:10.52 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:80.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:58.12 yearsmale:57.69 yearsfemale:58.59 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:3.57 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun: Indian(s)adjective:IndianEthnic divisions:Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3%Religions:Hindu 82.6%, Muslim 11.4%, Christian 2.4%, Sikh 2%, Buddhist 0.7%, Jains0.5%, other 0.4%Languages:English enjoys associate status but is the most important language fornational, political, and commercial communication, Hindi the nationallanguage and primary tongue of 30% of the people, Bengali (official), Telugu(official), Marathi (official), Tamil (official), Urdu (official), Gujarati(official), Malayalam (official), Kannada (official), Oriya (official),Punjabi (official), Assamese (official), Kashmiri (official), Sindhi(official), Sanskrit (official), Hindustani a popular variant of Hindu/Urdu,is spoken widely throughout northern Indianote:24 languages each spoken by a million or more persons; numerous otherlanguages and dialects, for the most part mutually unintelligibleLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1990)total population:48%male:62%female:34%Labor force:284.4 millionby occupation:agriculture 67% (FY85)
*India, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Indiaconventional short form:IndiaDigraph:INType:federal republicCapital:New DelhiAdministrative divisions:25 states and 7 union territories*; Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra, Pradesh, ArunachalPradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Dadra and Nagar, Haveli*, Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa,,Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh,Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh,, Maharashtra, Manipur,Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry*,, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu,Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West BengalIndependence: 15 August 1947 (from UK)Constitution:26 January 1950Legal system:based on English common law; limited judicial review of legislative acts;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservationsNational holiday:Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 26 January (1950)Political parties and leaders:Congress (I) Party, P. V. Narasimha RAO, president; Bharatiya Janata Party,M. M. JOSHI; Janata Dal Party; Communist Party of India/Marxist (CPI/M),Harkishan Singh SURJEET; Communist Party of India (CPI), C. Rajeswara RAO;Telugu Desam (a regional party in Andhra Pradesh), N. T. Rama RAO; All-IndiaAnna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK; a regional party in Tamil Nadu),JAYALALITHA Jeyaram; Samajwadi Janata Party, CHANDRA SHEKHAR; Shiv Sena, BalTHACKERAY; Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Tridip CHOWDHURY; BahujanaSamaj Party (BSP), Kanshi RAM; Congress (S) Party, leader NA; CommunistParty of India/Marxist-Leninist (CPI/ML), Satyanarayan SINGH; DravidaMunnetra Kazagham (a regional party in Tamil Nadu), M. KARUNANIDHI; AkaliDal factions representing Sikh religious community in the Punjab; NationalConference (NC; a regional party in Jammu and Kashmir), Farooq ABDULLAH;Asom Gana Parishad (a regional party in Assam), Prafulla MAHANTAOther political or pressure groups:various separatist groups seeking greater communal and/or regional autonomy;numerous religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations, including AdamSena, Ananda Marg, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak SanghSuffrage:18 years of age; universalElections:People's Assembly:last held 21 May, 12 and 15 June 1991 (next to be held by November 1996);results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (545 total, 543 elected, 2appointed) Congress (I) Party 245, Bharatiya Janata Party 119, Janata DalParty 39, Janata Dal (Ajit Singh) 20, CPI/M 35, CPI 14, Telugu Desam 13,AIADMK 11, Samajwadi Janata Party 5, Shiv Sena 4, RSP 4, BSP 1, Congress (S)Party 1, other 23, vacant 9Executive branch:president, vice president, prime minister, Council of Ministers
*India, Government
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament (Sansad) consists of an upper house or Council ofStates (Rajya Sabha) and a lower house or People's Assembly (Lok Sabha)Judicial branch:Supreme CourtLeaders:Chief of State:President Shankar Dayal SHARMA (since 25 July 1992); Vice President K.R.NARAYANAN (since 21 August 1992)Head of Government:Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha RAO (since 21 June 1991)Member of:AG (observer), AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-6, G-15, G-19, AfDB, G-24,G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM,ONUSAL, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ,UNTAC, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Siddhartha Shankar RAYchancery:2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone:(202) 939-7000consulates general:Chicago, New York, and San FranciscoUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Thomas R. Pickeringembassy:Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri 110021, New Delhimailing address:use embassy street addresstelephone:[91] (11) 600651FAX:[91] (11) 687-2028, 687-2391consulates general:Bombay, Calcutta, MadrasFlag:three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a bluechakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; similar to the flag ofNiger, which has a small orange disk centered in the white band
*India, Economy
Overview:India's economy is a mixture of traditional village farming, modernagriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitudeof support services. Faster economic growth in the 1980s permitted asignificant increase in real per capita private consumption. A large shareof the population, perhaps as much as 40%, remains too poor to afford anadequate diet. Financial strains in 1990 and 1991 prompted governmentausterity measures that slowed industrial growth but permitted India to meetits international payment obligations without rescheduling its debt. Policyreforms since 1991 have extended earlier economic liberalization and greatlyreduced government controls on production, trade, and investment.National product:GDP - exchange rate conversion - $240 billion (FY93 est.)National product real growth rate:4% (FY93 est.)National product per capita:$270 (FY93 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):11.9% (1992 est.)Unemployment rate:NA%Budget:revenues $39.2 billion; expenditures $41.06 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $10.2 billion (FY92)Exports:$19.8 billion (f.o.b., FY93 est.)commodities:gems and jewelry, clothing, engineering goods, leather manufactures, cottonyarn, and fabricpartners:USSR 16.1%, US 14.7%, West Germany 7.8% (FY91)Imports:$25.5 billion (c.i.f., FY93 est.)commodities:crude oil and petroleum products, gems, fertilizer, chemicals, machinerypartners:US 12.1%, West Germany 8.0%, Japan 7.5% (FY91)External debt:$73 billion (March 1992)Industrial production:growth rate 2.5% (FY93 est.); accounts for about 25% of GDPElectricity:82,000,000 kW capacity; 310,000 million kWh produced, 340 kWh per capita(1992)Industries:textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment,cement, mining, petroleum, machineryAgriculture:accounts for about 30% of GDP and employs 67% of labor force; principalcrops - rice, wheat, oilseeds, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes;livestock - cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, poultry; fish catch of about 3million metric tons ranks India among the world's top 10 fishing nationsIllicit drugs:licit producer of opium poppy for the pharmaceutical trade, but some opiumis diverted to illicit international drug markets; major transit country forillicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries; illicit producer ofhashish
*India, Economy
Economic aid:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.4 billion; Western (non-US)countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $31.7 billion; OPECbilateral aid (1979-89), $315 million; USSR (1970-89), $11.6 billion;Eastern Europe (1970-89), $105 millionCurrency:1 Indian rupee (Re) = 100 paiseExchange rates:Indian rupees (Rs) per US$1 - 26.156 (January 1993), 25.918 (1992), 22.742(1991), 17.504 (1990), 16.226 (1989), 13.917 (1988)Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
*India, Communications
Railroads:61,850 km total (1986); 33,553 km 1.676-meter broad gauge, 24,051 km1.000-meter gauge, 4,246 km narrow gauge (0.762 meter and 0.610 meter);12,617 km is double track; 6,500 km is electrifiedHighways:1,970,000 km total (1989); 960,000 km surfaced and 1,010,000 km gravel,crushed stone, or earthInland waterways:16,180 km; 3,631 km navigable by large vesselsPipelines:crude oil 3,497 km; petroleum products 1,703 km; natural gas 902 km (1989)Ports:Bombay, Calcutta, Cochin, Kandla, Madras, New Mangalore, Port Blair (AndamanIslands)Merchant marine:306 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,278,672 GRT/10,446,073 DWT;includes 1 short-sea passenger, 6 passenger-cargo, 87 cargo, 1roll-on/roll-off, 8 container, 63 oil tanker, 10 chemical tanker, 8combination ore/oil, 114 bulk, 2 combination bulk, 6 liquefied gasAirports:total:336usable:285with permanent-surface runways:205with runways over 3,659 m:2with runways 2,440-3,659 m:58with runways 1,220-2,439 m:90Telecommunications:domestic telephone system is poor providing only one telephone for about 200persons on average; long distance telephoning has been improved by adomestic satellite system which also carries TV; international service isprovided by 3 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth stations and by submarine cablesto Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates; broadcast stations - 96 AM, 4 FM,274 TV (government controlled)
*India, Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Security or Paramilitary Forces (including BorderSecurity Force, Assam Rifles, and Coast Guard)Manpower availability:males age 15-49 242,866,053; fit for military service 143,008,471; about9,466,323 reach military age (17) annually (1993 est.)Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $5.8 billion, 2.4% of GDP (FY93/94)
*Indian Ocean, Geography
Location:body of water between Africa, Asia, Australia, and AntarcticaMap references:Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:73.6 million km2comparative area:slightly less than eight times the size of the US; third-largest ocean(after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but larger than the ArcticOcean)note:includes Arabian Sea, Bass Straight, Bay of Bengal, Java Sea, Persian Gulf,Red Sea, Straight of Malacca, Timor Sea, and other tributary water bodiesCoastline:66,526 kmInternational disputes:some maritime disputes (see littoral states)Climate:northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon (June to October);tropical cyclones occur during May/June and October/November in the northIndian Ocean and January/February in the south Indian OceanTerrain:surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad, circular system ofcurrents) in the south Indian Ocean; unique reversal of surface currents inthe north Indian Ocean, low atmospheric pressure over southwest Asia fromhot, rising, summer air results in the southwest monsoon andsouthwest-to-northeast winds and currents, while high pressure over northernAsia from cold, falling, winter air results in the northeast monsoon andnortheast-to-southwest winds and currents; ocean floor is dominated by theMid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge,Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninety East Ridge; maximum depth is 7,258meters in the Java TrenchNatural resources:oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and gravel aggregates, placerdeposits, polymetallic nodulesEnvironment:endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and whales;oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red SeaNote:major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz, Strait ofMalacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the Lombok Strait; shipssubject to superstructure icing in extreme south near Antarctica from May toOctober